secret.

"The Baron?" he repeated, lowering his voice. "What Baron?"

It was evident that Burke knew nothing, at least of this new plot
which Miss Lowe had indicated. Kennedy beckoned him over to the
window furthest from the door to his own room.

"What have you discovered?" he asked, forestalling Burke in the
questioning. "What has happened?"

"You haven't heard, then?" replied Burke.

Kennedy nodded negatively.

"Fortescue, the American inventor of fortescite, the new
explosive, died very strangely this morning."

"Yes," encouraged Kennedy, as Burke came to a full stop to observe
the effect of the information.

"Most incomprehensible, too," he pursued. "No cause, apparently.
But it might have been overlooked, perhaps, except for one thing.
It wasn't known generally, but Fortescue had just perfected a
successful electro-magnetic gun--powderless, smokeless, flashless,
noiseless and of tremendous power. To-morrow he was to have signed
the contract to sell it to England. This morning he is found dead
and the final plans of the gun are gone!"

Kennedy and Burke were standing mutely looking at each other.